The Israel Air Force deployed an anti-ballistic missile system near
the northern city of Haifa last week, Israel´s Channel 10 reported on
Monday, as part of a larger aerial defense drill.

According to the report, the Patriot missile battery was set up in a
site near Haifa University on the eve of Passover, indicating that
this specific system was designed to target aircraft, as opposed to
rockets.

The Israel Defense Forces´ Spokesman´s Office said in response to the
report that it does not "comment on operational deployment."

The drill came, however, as air force officials identify an extensive
aerial armament process throughout the Middle East, which includes
the purchasing of advanced aircraft and technology.

Among others, these purchases include Syria´s purchase of billions of
dollars worth of planes and radar systems.

IAF officials have stated in the past that some of these enhancements
challenge Israel´s aerial superiority, while, at the same time,
cutting back on the IAF´s technological regional command.

Last month, the IDF deployed an Iron Dome battery at three different
sites in the Tel Aviv area beginning, as it prepares for the
acquisition of a fourth battery of the anti-rocket system.

Three batteries have already been actively deployed in the southern
cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Be´er Sheva. The deployment in Tel
Aviv is intended to test the effectiveness of the battery in
different areas, the IDF said.

During a joint U.S.-Israel aerial defense exercise in 2010,
nicknamed "Juniper Cobra," the IAF drilled its older Patriot PAC-
1system, designed to target aircraft only. It was the same model
deployed across Israel during the Gulf War, in an attempt to deal
with the more advanced Scud missiles.

Currently, the IAF mostly operates the more advanced PAC-2 systems,
which can also intercept rocket fire.